Indexing mat winding machine



J. F. STEPHENS mbsxmc MAT w-mm uc MAGHINEY Jan. 28, 1958 4 Siesta-Sheet1 Filed Jan. 18, 1955 4 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F STEPHENS f7 TTOPA/EY Jan. 28, 1958 .1. F. STEPHENS 2,321,347

INDEXING MAT WINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvrmJESEPH F STEPHENS ATTOAWEY tions substantially simultaneously performedby the reindexing mat winding machine, containing one embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of my indexing mat winding machine takengenerally along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of my indexing mat windingmachine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view taken on an enlarged scale,with parts in section, showing the mandrel release means of my indexingmat winding machine.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the automatic control circuit for myindexing mat winding machine.

More particularly referring now to the drawings, my indexing mat windingmachine includes a frame having a base and a pair of upstanding bearingsupport members 12 and 14. The frame side members 12 and 14 support areel indicated generally by the reference character 16. Reel 16 includessides 18 and 20 fixed by means of respective hubs 22 and'24 in spacedrelationship on a hollow shaft 26 for rotation therewith. Channel irons28, fixed by any suitable means such as welding or the like betweensides 18 and 20, provide rigidity for the reel structure and maintainsides 18 and 20 in spaced relationship. Hollow shaft 26 is rotatablymounted in supports 12 and 14 by respective bearings 30 and 32.

Referring now to Figure l, the reel 16 supports a number ofcircumferentially-spaced mat winding units, indicated generally,respectively, by reference numerals 34, 36, and 38. As can be seen byreference to Figures 1, 2, and 4, each of the mat winding units 34, 36,and .38 includes an endless belt 40 supported on a plurality of beltcarrying rollers. Each unit includes a drive roller 42 fixed on a shaft44 which is rotatably mounted in respective bearings 46 and 48 carriedby sides 18 and 20. Each of the mat winding units also includes a pairof relatively movable belt supporting rollers 50 and 52. Roller 50 mayconveniently be rotatably carried by shaft 54. Shaft 54 is slidablymounted in slots 56 provided in sides 18 and 20. Slots 56 are formed byguide members 58 secured to the sides 18 and 20 by any convenient meanssuch as machine screws 60 or the like. In order to provide a means formoving shaft 54 and roller 50 back and forth in slots 56, I mount a pairof double-acting hydraulic cylinders 62 on brackets 66 carried by sides18 and 20. The piston rod 68 associated with each of the cylinders 62 iscoupled to an end of shaft 54 by a fitting 70. It will readily beappreciated that when rod 68 is actuated, shaft 54 moves along the slots56. The other of the pair of movable rollers 52 may conveniently berotatably carried by a shaft 72 slidably mounted in slots 74 formed insides 18 and 20. In order to move shaft 72 back and forth in slots 74, Iprovide a pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders 76 of anyappropriate type known in the art. Cylinders 76 are mounted on brackets78 carried by sides 18 and 20. The piston rod 80 associated with each ofthe cylinders 76 is coupled to an end of shaft 72 by a fitting 82. Itwill be appreciated that as rod 80 is actuated, shaft 72 is moved alongthe slots 74.

Each mat winding unit has an idler roller 84 carried by a shaft 86rotatably mounted in bearings 88 in sides 18 and 20. I provide a mattensioning roller 90 rotatably carried bya shaft 92, the ends of whichride in radial slots 94 in sides 18 and 20. Rollers are normally urgedradially inwardly on the reel 16 by tension springs 96 fixed betweenpoints on the reel sides adjacent the respective hubs 22 and 24 andfittings 98 on the ends of shaft 92.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, in order to provide a means fordriving the mat winding belts 40, as well as a means for driving thereel stepping means, I mount a motor 100 on a platform 102 secured toside 14 of the frame by any appropriate means such as bolts 104. Motor100 is held on platform 102 by bolts 106. The drive shaft 108 of motor100 carries a gear 110 thereon for rotation therewith. Gear 110 drives agear 112 fixed on a shaft 114 which passes through the hollow shaft 26carrying the reel 16. It is to be noted that while shaft 26 is rotatablymounted in bearings 30 and 32, shaft 114 is free to rotate within thehollow shaft 26. Any appropriate means, such as thrust collars 116formed adjacent the ends of shaft 114, may be employed to position shaft114 axially with respect to shaft 26 and to prevent shifting thereof. Imount a pair of sprocket wheels 118 and 120 on shaft 114 for rotationtherewith adjacent the ends thereof. A pair of pitch chains 122 and 124drivingly connect the respective sprocket wheels 118 and 120 with a pairof sprocket wheels 126 and 128 fixedly mounted on the ends of shaft 44of mat winding unit 34. This shaft 44 of mat winding unit 34 carries asecond pair of sprocket wheels 130 and 132 for rotation therewithadjacentthe respective sprocket wheels 126 and 128. The respectivesprocket wheels 130 and 132 are arranged to drive pitch chains 134 and136. Chain 134 passes around and drives respective sprocket wheels 130fixed on the shafts 44 of the respective mat winding units 36 and 38.Similarly, chain 136 drives respective sprocket wheels 132 fixed on theshafts 44 of the respective mat winding units 36 and 38. It will readilybe appreciated that the wrapping belt drive just described drives allthe mat winding belts 40 continuously whenever motor 100 is energized.

In'order to provide a means for stepping the reel 16 when the operationsat each station have been completed, I mount the driving member 138 of aone-revolution clutch, indicated generally by the reference character140, on shaft 108 for rotation therewith. Clutch 140 may be of any typeknownto the art, such, for example, as that shown and described in U. S.Patent No. 2,140,737. Clutch 140 includes a driven member 142 fixed on ashaft 144 rotatably mounted in a bearing 146 cart-id by member 14. Aclutch operating member 148 is adapted to be actuated to release thedrive member 142 of clutch 140 to permit shaft 144 to be driven throughone revolution. A spur gear 150 fixed on shaft 144 for rotationtherewith drivingly engages a gear 152 fixed on shaft 26 for rotationtherewith. It will readily be understood that when the actuating member148 of clutch 140 is operated to release the driven member 142, shaft144 will be driven through a single revolution. I select a ratio betweengear 150 carried by shaft 144 and gear 152 carried by shaft 26 such thatwhen shaft 144 makes a single revolution, shaft 26 makes a third of arevolution.

I provide a mandrel feed station, a mat winding station, and a dischargestation at equally spaced positions around and adjacent to the peripheryof reel 16. Conveniently, I mount three circumferentially equally-spacedmatwindingunits on the reel 16. The arrangement is such that, at-anytime when operations are being performed, one of the mat winding unitsis adjacent each station. Since shaft 26 carrying reel 16 makes a thirdof. a revolution when one-revolution clutch 140 is actuated, the matwinding units carried by the reel are stepped successively from stationto station after each group of operations is completed.

Referring now to Figure 3, I provide an empty mandrel feed stationadjacent the top of the reel. A mandrel supply rack'including'a' pair ofspaced inclined rails 154 may be. supported by any ,suitable means .fromthe machine frame; Eiznpty mandie'ls1S6are'supportedHytIieiirespectivesliafts 158ibn"rails"154'. Sincerails:-15'4"are inclineddownwardlyitoward' 'the reel ldjtlie. mandrel. shafts 158 are fedbygravitytb"apairof substantially verticall'yjdif l rected guideways160. Each of. the guideways' 160I'is fbrmed by asubstantiallyvertically' depending portion 162" of a rail 154 .and by atmandrel shafti retaining' mema ber'164." The guidew'ays 160 directamandrel shaft 158 to a position wherecits' endsare' retained by a pairof mandrel'feedlreleases latches, eachofi'which is indicated generallyby.'the' reference character 166.

Ascan be seen Byreference "to Figurer4j eachiofthe mandrel: feedreleaselatch assemblies 1"66in'cluds a housing;168 inwhich-l.f'slidably.rnount a first finger 170. in an axial bore 1T2formed'in-the housing. Finger 170 is. normally, urged'to' thetleft,.as.-viewedlin Figure 4,. by a coil spring 174' hearing,..betweentherbase. of 'housingl68 andfian annular flange 176$formedladjacentan.end;.o finger 170T Cdnveniently, finger. .110 mayiberthel.armasture of asolenoid, the winding ,178iofi which sccarriedtby, arecessi180 inth'ousing ,168' so. as tosurround fiiigerr170,v Whenwinding; 178" is. energized, fingercl7fl" movedhto the. right, as"viewed' in- Figure 4, against the action: of. spring 17.4- to withdrawthefingertfrom under: the. mandrel shaftl1'58l'to. permitth'eamandrel tomove. downwardly; against the surface of an open. belt.40. I slidablymount. a retaining finger. 182 within. a second.bore-184-formedvin.l1ousing.,168.. Finger. 182.is..operatively'connectedwith: fiiiger.170'. by a levers 186 disposed inttransverserrecess #188: and :pivotany,carriedby a.ipin.1 90. O'net-endroflleven 186: engages ina :recessu192formed. inzfingert 182.-.and' the othenendloflever 186 engagesinaurecess 194in'zfingert 170'. Ash finger@.170 movesnto. the: right:when solenoid 1781 is :energ ized,. it drivesdever: 186-to move'retaining; finger...182 to. therleft, asr-viewed. in Figure 4. Whilefinger .1.70 is.so movedzto releaseua mandrel, finger. 182-;

isamoved .to. -a position to support the. next succeeding;

mandrel; and.. prevent its interference with the mandrel:

beingqfed to a matrwindingunit. When'winding 178 is:

dei-ienergized, ,spring .174 returns:the-.-fingers--to. their nor malpositions, shown in Figure 4, and the mandrelawhichL was. caughtnby.fingers 182 drops to: beretained by "fingers" 170.

Eachof thesideslS and 20 is formed-with a radialt slot 192: adjacent.each: of.-v the mat winding units to receive-- antendof amandrelshaft-which is being fed tov then' correspondingumatwinding-unit; In order to=prov1de a.

means .for; driving:a. mandrel into-the open' belt between rollers50and52againstthe action ofitension-zrol ler. 90}

machine-"frame;

directionioflrotationof shaft 206 is reversed," the racldlis returned.to. the position ishownin Figure '3. A pairr'ot' arms 208Ipivotedhon'pins 210carried by the respective sides 198of rack.194provide a"drivinggengagemerrt be tween therackand-the mandrel shaft158-of the mandrel bingtedfto-a.matrwinding unit. Springs 212-connectedbetweensidest198 and arms 2.08 normally urge: arms 208 in. a.counterclockwise: direction, asviewed in Figure 3.- A pair of..stops214-carried-by sides.198 limitithewmove ment oflarms 208 .-under.theactionof springsr212i- After thehmandrel release means; 166' hasoperated" to releasea mandrel. for: movement toward'ibelt 1'40, rack-194is"driven tor-englger arms 2208-6 withzthet: ends F ofthemandt'el snareAs thet raclctcontinuesr to -move= downwardlw the empty" mandrel 156 isforced intoi therbel-t 4fl between rollersitl and 52 against the actionof tensionroller 90. As this action talfes place,ptension. roller -isdrawn up inrslots 94"against the action of-springs.-96. Whenar mandrel15.6"ha's'b'eemdriven into belt 40 so that the. mandreLsliaft end's'arepositioned in journals formedat thehottomnof radial'sl6ts'192j 'lthemandrelf'eeddrive motor. (not sliown). connected. to shaft 206 in anyappropriate manner is 11% versed'ifia manner'to be-describedhereinafterto return the'feedrack tothe position shown in Figure. 31. U

Iir'order t'o' retain themandrel shaft endsin the-journalsin'theh'ottoms of lslbtsxll92, Ii mountaipair. of.solenoidoperatedla'tches' 216 'adjacent the bottoms. of slotsa192;E'achof the"1atclres216 is pivoted on a pin. 218 in one of the sides.18""or"20 and is' operatively connectedawith tliearmature' 220"o fo'neof a pair of solenoids-222carried by the respective side'sxl8 and20.When a= mandrel shaft has beenpositioned'inlthebottoms "of slots. 192,solenoids 222 are "energized in am'a'nner to be describedrhereinafterto: operate latches' 2161 to hold the mandrelafii'mly in. place; A'fterthe mandrelhasbeenso positioned and latched;tlrehydrauliccylinders 62and76, associated with the respective movable rollers 50 and52, .areoperatedtto wrap' the 'belt'aboutthe'mandrel torform a pocket. Therelative'dispositiolr ofthe parts of the matwindingunit at this tir'neis asshownfor unit 36'iniFigureJ.

Wh ile"a*matwinding'unit, such as therunit 34 isre- (ZelVi-llg arrernptymandrel in the manner just described; another oftheunits, such as theunit 36, is in .a "position? to' receivea'len'gthofmat; Ascan be seen byreference to Figure" 1;: amat feed "conveyor, indicated. generally by,the reference character. 224, is disposed. adjacent theunit 3156-While-unit 3.4 is" being fedan empty. mandrek, unit3f6 isbcin'gfedalength. of a mat onbatofvfibrous, material 226carriedby conveyor-224; Asthe=mat226 is being fed to the unit '36, it interrupts alight beam froma lightsource 228 to'a photoelectric relay. unit 23th The photoelectricunit'230forrns apart of the: automatic corn trol circuit to be describedhereinafter.

While"u11-it34 is receiving an empty mandrel and while unit 36-isbeingfed'with mat, the third-unit 38-is dis-- charging-a wrappedmandrel. When-unit 38-reaches the"- discharge'station, the automaticcontrol meanstobeldescribed hereinafter tie-energizes therlatchsolenoidswzi fl v associated'with'this station to release themandrebshatbends. At the sametime, the movable rollercylinders-62- and7'6-ofthis unit arereversedto open the-belt andl deliver thewrappedmandrel to a chute 232 -which-de-- livers-the wrapped mandrel vtoa discharge conveyor (notshown).

When the operations at each ofthe mandrel feeding. mat winding andwrapped mandrel dischargestations have been completed, the actuatingmember148 of one-revolution clutch is operated to permit reel.16 to bestepped through-a third of ahrevolution; When-this operationtakes'place; unit 34, which has just received anuempty-z. mandrel; advances tothe wrappingastation,.whichfor merly was occupied by unit36; unit'36,the mandrelrofu which has justbeenwrapped withimat advancesto thedischarge station, which formerly was occupiedby unit.

38; and unit 38-, which has just delivered a wrapped man-v dr'el, isagain advanced to the mandrel feed station, which Referring now toFigure 5, the electrical controlIcircui-t for my mat winding machineincludes a pair of-supplyp lines 234 and 236 connected respectively toasuitable source of electrical power having terminalst238' and 2401" Thefield *winding'of the'main drive motor 1'00'is indicated schematicallyin the figure by reference character 242.?

One side of winding242 is connected'to' line 234 by, a

pair of normally'open contacts 244. The other side ofwindingfl ii isconnectedto line 2.36. The armature 246,

of motor 100 is connected'at one side to line 234 by normally opencontacts 248 and at the other side to line 236.

In order to drive shaft 206 to feed mandrels to a mat winding unit, Iprovide a mandrel feed drive motor including a field winding 250, oneside of which is connected by normally open contacts 252 to line 234 andthe other side of which is connected to line 236. The brake solenoid 251associated with the mandrel feed drive motor may conveniently beconnected at one side to line 234 by a pair of normally closed contacts253 and at the other side to line 236. The armature 254 of the mandrelfeed drive motor is connected to line 234 by normally open contacts 256at one side and at the other side is connected to line 236 by normallyopen contacts 258 and normally closed contacts 260 in series. It willreadily be appreciated that when both contacts 256 and 258 are closed,the mandrel feed drive motor is energized to rotate shaft 206 in onedirection. Conveniently, when these contacts are closed, shaft 206 isrotated to drive rack 194 in a direction to feed mandrels to belt 40.

In order to provide a means for reversing the direction of rotation ofshaft 206, I provide reversing connections for the mandrel feed drivemotor. These connections include a pair of normally open contacts 262for connecting the side of armature 254 to which contacts 258 areconnected to line 234. To complete the reversing connections, a pair ofnormally open contacts 264 connect the side of armature 254 to whichcontacts 256 are connected to line 236. As will be explainedhereinafter, when contacts 262 and 264 close to reverse the direction ofrotation of the mandrel feed drive motor, normally closed contacts 260are opened to interrupt the forward drive circuit of the motor.

In order to start the motor 100 and the mandrel feed drive motor tobegin operations, I provide a start button 266 having two pairs ofrespective contacts 268 and 270 associated therewith. Contacts 268 areconnected in series with a mandrel drive motor starting relay Winding272 and a stop switch 287 between lines 234 and 236. Similarly, contacts270 are connected in series with a main drive motor starting relaywinding 274 and switch 287 between lines 234 and 236. When start button266 is pressed, contacts 268 and 270 are closed to complete the circuitsof their respective windings 272 and 274. When winding 272 is energized,it opens contacts 253 and closes contacts 252, 258 and 256 through alinkage 276 to de-energize brake solenoid winding 251 and to energizethe mandrel feed drive motor to drive rack 194 downwardly in a feedingdirection. In order to maintain the circuit of winding 272 after thebutton 266 has been released, I provide a holding circuit including apair of normally open cor1- tacts 278 adapted to be closed by linkage276. One of the contacts 278 is connected to one side of winding 272 bya conductor 280. The other of the contacts 278 is connected by normallyclosed contacts 282 to line 236. When winding 272 is energized by theclosing of push button contacts 268, contacts 278 close to maintain thecircuit of winding 272. This holding circuit may be traced from line234, through switch 287, through winding 272, through conductor 280,through contacts 278, and through normally closed contacts 282 to line236.

When contacts 270 are closed upon operation of button 266, winding 274is energized to close contacts 244 and 248 through a linkage 282, thusstarting the main drive motor 100. In order to maintain the circuit ofwinding 274 after button 266 has been released, I provide a holdingcircuit including a pair of normally open contacts 284 which areoperated by linkage 282. One of the contacts 284 is connected to theside of winding 274 connected to contacts 270 by a conductor 286. Theother of the contacts 284 is connected to line 236. After push button266, which closes contacts 274 and thereby closes contacts 284, isreleased, the circuit to winding 274 may be traced from line 234,through switch 287, through winding 274, through conductor 286, throughthe now closed contacts 284 to line 236.

In order to energize the mandrel release latch solenoid windings 178' atthe feeding station, I connect windings 178 in parallel between lines234 and 236. One side of each of the windings 178 is connected bynormally open contacts 288 to line 234, and the other side is connectedby normally closed contacts 290 to line 236. As can be seen by referenceto Figure 5, contacts 288 are closed when linkage 276 is operated toenergize windings 178 and actuate the mandrel release latch fingers 170.After the mandrel release latch fingers have been actuated to release amandrel, and the mandrel rack 194 has been driven until the mandrelshaft ends are positioned in the bottoms of slots 192, rack 194 engagesand actuates a mandrel seating limit switch 292. This mandrel seatinglimit switch 292 is connected in series with a mandrel seating relaywinding 294 between lines 234 and 236. At this time the mandrel seatinglatches 216 of the mat winding unit positioned adjacent the feedingstation are to be operated. It will readily be appreciated that themandrel seating latches 216 must be closed at the feeding station, keptclosed at the winding station, and released at the discharge station.Accordingly, the control means for these latches is conditioned tooperate the latches in two positions of the reel and is de-energized torelease the latches in the third position of the reel. At any particularposition of the reel, the control means for the seating of latches ofthe unit adjacent the mandrel feed station is conditioned to operate. Atthe same time, the latches of the unit positioned adjacent the windingstation are maintained closed and the latches of the unit positionedadjacent the discharge station are opened. Referring again to Figure 5,the windings 296 of the pair of mandrel seating latch solenoids 222 ofthe mat winding unit adjacent the feeding station are each connected atone side to line 234. The other sides of each of the windings 296 areconnected by a pair of normally open contacts 298 to a contact 300 of arotary switch including a brush 302 which is connected to line 236. Thesides of windings 296 connected to contacts 298 are also connected bynormally open contacts 304 to a contact 306 of a second rotary switchincluding a contacting segment 308 which is connected to line 236.Contacts 298 are arranged to be closed by a linkage 310 which isoperated by the energization of the mandrel seating relay winding 294.If this relay Winding 294 is energized to close contacts 298 and thebrush 302 engages contact 300, the circuit to,

the parallel-connected windings 296 is complete from line 234, throughwindings 296, through the now-closed contacts 298, through contact 300and brush 302 to line 236. Brush 302 may conveniently be carried byshaft 26 so that it engages stationary contact 300 at only one positionof reel 16. In order to maintain the circuit of windings 296 while thecorresponding unit is at the winding station after the reel has beenstepped, I connect a holding winding 312 in parallel with windings 296.Winding 312is adapted when energized to close contacts 304 through alinkage 314. Since winding 312 is connected in parallel with windings296, it also will be energized when contacts 298 are closed and whenbrush 302 engages contact 300. When brush 302 leaves contact 300 as thereel is stepped, the circuit to windings 296 and 312 is maintained fromline 234 through windings 296 and 312, through the now-closed contacts304, through contact 306, and through segment 308 to line 236. Segment308 may also conveniently be carried by shaft 26. Its dimensions aresuch that it maintains the holding circuit provided by contacts 304 forthe period of time when the corresponding unit is at the winding stationafter it leaves contact 300.

The mandrel seating latch windings 316 associated with another of themat winding units, which may, for examplc,';;be;theunitx35 adjacentv thewinding stationtate connected; onev side? by. a. common: conductorr 1G5line 234; Theothensides; of these windings; 316i are-cone nected byapairofcnormally open-contacts 318 tora con-. 5 tacti320t associatedwithbrush 302; Contacts/318:" are arranged: to: be. closed (by the flinkage- 310 when: the man, drel seating relay Winding 29 4risenergized. When Winding-294th energized: to vclose: contactsz318: and;brush 3fl2r eng agest contactsv 32.0,," the. circuit. to: windings: 316incomplete-frorn line. 234,;through-.w-indings 316; throughn0w=c1osedlcontacts-.318; throughcontact1320. and brush .92ztoaline.236... In orderttovmaintain;the cirouit'ofiwinds ings 316.01.thQDflCCSsalEX-Pefiod-Offil'llfinlflfil' brush-302 leaves-contact.320 I connect. a-- holding; winding; 3221- in arallehwithwindings.316.. Winding. 322?is adapted when: energizeddon close: a-pair,ofg norrnally open contacts 324- by, means-of. a. linkage. 326.Contacts: 324: ,arezdisposede benween.winding ;322; and. a contact 32%associated. with segment. 108. After brush. 3.02: leaves-tcontaet:iizthzthei circuit .of.. windings} Sid-is; maintained from-dine 23.42-throughp paralleleconnected. windings 316w ands. 322;.thmuglgtmow-closed; contacts. 324;, through] a ;contact: 321; and.through. segment. 308402 line; 236' Inprdentooperate thetmandrel seatinglatch solenoids: 32.81 associated. with, therthird. mat: winding. unit:which may forrexample, be the..unit 38tdisposedaadjacentt.the:dijchargestation, .I connect, the associated -.latch; solenoid:Wiiidii1g:328,at,onesideto line 23,4 and at.,the..-other:side: throughnormally I open. contacts. 330i to a. third. contact: 3321associatedjwith. brush. 302.. Gonta-ots: 33.41 arezan-c ranged to. beclosedihy, linkage-310 'upon tthesenergizationt of the, mandr'eliseating relay winding. 294. i When wind,- ing,294.is. energized, to.closev contactsa330; and brush engages contact,3,32, .the..cirlcuit ,towindings 328-.isi-come plete from. line 234; through. windings 328,through mow: closed contacts 330; through. contact, Sin-and brush 3,02;to;lii1e 236; In order. to. maintaiimthe. circuitzofawindingsz; 328" forthe. necessary, period; of, time; afterbrushififlza1eaves"contact'322;;Ifconnect aholding relay winding 3.3.4in;paral1'e1with' windings 328;. Winding.;33.4;is adapted; whenenergizedtoiclose. a ,pair. of=normally1 o en-contacts;- 336 -hy meansofa.1ii1lage.338. Contacts:336 are.cone nected 'between windings33,4;and athird .contacti34tlassasciatedrwithKsegment' 3081; After:brush.302. leaves contacts 332, the 'cir'cuit' to windings. 328;isnmaintai-neds from -line--; zflfthrouglrwindings 328and 334, throughcontactss32l6gthrough contact .340 and segment308ito .line.236.. Itawillreadily= be appreciated" that since. Windiug,:334 is. cone neeted inparallelj'with windings 3'28, it-.wi1l .be energized-r when brush- 3'02engages contact. 332. and :when contacts. 330 are' closed.

It is' to 'be noted thatth'e arrangement; of. segmentx3fl8e and-itscorresponding contacts,-,and .brush.302 and. its coreresponding-contacts; is such that thelatchesrofsthevarious1 mat windingunits: are actuated inthe. proper. sequencer. Botlr segment 3'08 andbrush j 302 may. conveniently be; carried 'hy'sliaftzzti to reel 16'andarrangedto.engage sta=- tio'nary, equally circumferentially -spacedcontacts... The." direction" of rotation of 1 segment-3081andpbrush,302-. is clockwise, as 'is indicated in Figure 5. When segment 308:1,first engages a contact. corresponding ;to a. particular mat. windingunit, brush'302. also engagesa contact: COIIfle-r sppndirrgto this unit.Consequently, when thetassociatedv. mandrel seating relay, contactsclose, the latchsolenoids. ofithisunit are.energized. Whenthereel-isinext:stepped the" segment. 308 maintains v. its engagementwith .-the';'conen tact associated with ,theparticular unit, :so that;the man-.5 drelila'tcb; solenoids. remain engaged, When the-reel'iszagain stepped segment. 3.08:leaves;theacontact; and't therr'mandrellatch solenoids are de-energizedto release the: mandrel. Thissequence .of operation isthe same for-each.- of the mat-windingunitsr34,l36, and-38st When-:1 ayunittx is at. the mandrel ,-feed..station,? the :latch', solenoidcircuitsz/ are conditioned'to close,thehlatches when, the mandrel seat- 75 r 10 ing limit switch isengaged. When the reel is stepped to: move; the unit: 103 the: mat:winding station; the. latch solenoid winding .circuitsraremaintained:throughisegment 308. When:therreellisagain.steppedtomovecthe'lmit to theudischarge': station; segment 3.085 leaves theassociated Contact torinterruptl the mandrel solenoid holdingcircuitsand permitithelatcheszto' release the mandrel.

Aftersansempty. mandrel .has beenfed to tone of the mat winding units;soy-as; to: be; seated. in the bottom: of the radial?slots:122;.theurnandre1: feedad'riye motor must be reversed-.1; to:return tdrii ez-rack 194 to.- its: initial position! The; reversal. of:the-:mandrel: feeding! drive: motor: may readily: be: accomplished: byclosing normally open. con taotsflfii .-znd-.264 and atttliexsamedime;opening contacts? 260. In; ordergctcxzopnm contacts: 260) and close:contacts 262;. and: 264,5 I; proyi'de: ameversing. trelayt winding 342*adapted.whenrenergiz'edato operate: contacts: 260, 262; and" 264%through 2 aalinkagezriflsti I connectt OIIetSid'G of wind in'g; 3.42.;to}. line; z2342flandothezotherc side: to: line: 236* by: meansof;aipair:ofinormallyopen::.contactsi346': Contacts3d6tarerzclosedihyulihlcage 310swhen :the mandrel seatinggltelaynwindinglfiisi-energized: by the nclosing of themandrel:Eseatingclimitzfswitchz 292. Wh'en contacts 336 olose,=; winding3.42Lis1 energized: to operate contacts 260, 262; t and 264.40 :reverse:the mandreli feed. drive motor. In: ordervto maintain: the; circuit. 'ofrelay winding 342 afterr. rack: 1&4: isndisengagedtfrom'r the: mandrelseating limitt switch :.29Z-;=.I;connect a holding relay windingx348imparallel with;winding 342QSOJHS to .be:energized'-when= contactsr3i46close. Winding348ris connected by normally open contacts. 35.0;anthnormally closed contacts 352 to. line-.236; When: energized...winding 1 34'8". closes conta'ctse 350.- through a:linkagefi54 tomaintain-the=reversing wind ing; circuit; after tbie rack-r194 releasesthe mandrel seat ing limittswitcliizflzh After: 'an=.empty.- mandre11hasbeen seated' in slots-I92 andtlatchedtin-.piacetby latches't2163the-movablerollers v 5.0t.-a-nd152 loft thezunittto wliichithennandrelhas beenfecl are i moved. toward one another! to: form 1 a i pocket of'th'e' belt:40.1a-bout.the-. mandreh Tosaccomplish' this endgfluidunder: pressure: must. be fed; tortliea proper side'- of F each?of-theecylindersyfifl and 76'associated'with the unitgand' thmothersides:-of:these:double=actingcylindrstslfbnldti? connectedtottthenexhaust... Asacanarbetseemby reference to.- Eignrec 3;, each:cylinder: .62 Lisa provided with a"-' fiu'id connection.-356rat: ,one:end! thereof: and a second fiirid connection.358a=at .tl'ierotherendSth'er-eof. Similarly; eachf of,.the, cylinders: ;76.-isprovidedrwithzconnections 360 and 362. Whenethe:moyablearollersz 5'0Jand52 are' twbev moved .towardtone. anotherato form a' pocket' of belt" 40"aliouta mandrel, ll lles'i356F31Id3362t8h0111d be con-nected'"total-source oftfluidzun'der*pressureeandlines 3'58 and 362:-should1beconneeted-ztwthelexhaust:. Referring 'again to .Eigure. 5,- in orderztosma'ke :theseiconnections, .I "provide solenoid). control; valves eachassociated with one=- of" the respective. t man. winding: units. Forexample; associated? with .therunit.positionedadjacent the feding'station; arrange:a.valve-;364;-. fmoneeposition of the' valve-a Sourcell essure .Brisaconnectedr to lines-356 'and 'SGZ- ofi'theassociated.-uni-t to:actuatesmovablerollers-5 0 and 5-2" to .the .closed-position.r In thistposition of 'th'ewalve; lines" 358..and 3.60arewonnected to; and exhaust E-i For con-r venie'nce; lines 356and"!362I of 3each unit;'wliielfleorrtv spond .to.the. closedmositi'omofithesmovaMe rollers-when .1 pressure is applied; thereto;have been' designated by the" outletC of 1the2valves= shown :in :Figure-S 5 Similarly"; lines 358,.andllifitb; whichiitxrirespiondsto the openbeltposition" when pressure:is: applied thereto; have been'indi'cated.as themutlet O-oEeaclt ofth'e valyes'shown in..Fi"gure v5'. Thesvalve:364Econrespond *to the mat winding unit which; is adjacent :tltemandrel feeding station. It is desirable. that thiswalve'besactuated"to'connect a source of pressure to closez'th'e movablerollers after a mandrel has. been... seatedd in slots wzi In'order toactuate valve 364'. to

accomplish this result, I provide a solenoid winding 366 arranged toactuate valve 364 through a suitable linkage. In order to energizewinding 366 to operate valve 364 to close rollers 50 and 52, I connectone side of winding 366 through a pair of normally open contacts 370 toline 236. I connect the other side of winding 366 to line 234 bynormally open contacts 372. In order to close contacts 370 and 372 toenergize solenoid 366, I connect a relay winding 374 at one side througha pair of normally open contacts 376 to line 236. I connect the otherside of winding 374 to a conducting segment 378 with which a brush 380connected to line 234 is associated. Contacts 376 are closed by linkage310 when the mandrel seating limit switch closes to energize winding 374to close contacts 370 and 372 to energize solenoid 366 to actuate valve364 to connect lines 356 and 362 of the associated mat winding unithydraulic cylinders to a source of fluid under pressure to close themovable rollers 50 and 52. At the same time, lines 358 and 360 areconnected to the exhaust. This is the condition of valve 364 indicatedin Figure 5. In order to maintain the circuit of solenoid 366 after themandrel seating limit switch 292 has been released by rack 194, Iconnect a holding winding 382 in parallel with winding 374 so as to beenergized when winding 374 is energized. Winding 382 is adapted to closea pair of normally open contacts 384 through a linkage 386. Contacts 384are connected between winding 382 and line 236. It will be appreciatedthat after the movable rollers 50 and 52 of a unit have been closed toform a pocket of belt 40 about a mandrel, they are to be maintained inthe closed position during the period of time when the unit is at thewinding station and until the reel has been stepped to advance the unitto the discharge station. In order to reverse the direction of actuationof valve 364 so as to open the movable rollers of the unit with whichthe valve is associated, I provide a second solenoid 368 for actuatingvalve 364 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the valve isactuated by solenoid 366. I connect one side of solenoid 368 to line 234by a pair of normally open contacts 390 and the other side of winding368 to line 236 by a pair of normally open contacts 388. When contacts388 and 390 are closed, valve 364 is actuated to connect the lines 358and 360 of the hydraulic cylinders of the associated mat winding unit toa source of fluid under pressure and to connect lines 356 and 362 ofhydraulic cylinders of the associated mat winding unit to the exhaust.In order to provide a means for closing contacts 388 and 390 when theunit arrives at the discharge station, I provide a relay winding 392connected at one side to line 236 and at the other side to a secondsegment 394 associated with brush 380. Conveniently, I arrange brush 380on the shaft 26. The arrangement is such that brush 380 engages segment378 when the associated unit is at the feeding station, so that themovable rollers 50 and 52 will be closed when the mandrel seating limitswitch 292 is engaged. This engagement of brush 380 is maintained duringthe stepping of reel 16 to keep the movable rollers in a closed positionuntil the corresponding unit arrives at the discharge station. When theunit arrives at the discharge station, brush 380 engages segment 394 tocomplete the circuit of reversing relay winding 392 from line 234,through brush 380, through segment 394, and through winding 392 to line236. When winding 392 is energized, contacts 388 and 390 are closedthrough a suitable linkage to energize solenoid 368. It will be readilyunderstood that segments 378 and 394 are separated by insulation so thatthe holding circuit provided by winding 382 is interrupted as brush 380travels from segment 378 to segment 394, thus de-energizing the solenoid366 which closes the movable rollers. When solenoid 368 is energized,lines 356 and 362 are connected to the exhaust, and lines 358 and 360are connected to the source of fluid under pressure.

I provide similar valve arrangements for the remainder 12. of the matwinding units. For the mat winding unit positioned adjacent the windingstation, I arrange valve 396 similar to valve 364. Valve 396 is actuatedby a suitable linkage driven by a solenoid 400. Solenoid 400 isconnected at one side to line 234 by a pair of normally open contacts404 and at the other side to line 236 by a pair of normally opencontacts 402. When contacts 402 and 404 are closed, solenoid 400actuates valve 396 to move the corresponding movable rollers to a closedposition. I provide a relay winding 406 connected at one side to line236 by normally open contacts 408 and at the other side to a segment 410with which a brush 412, connected to line 234, is associated. Contacts408 are closed by linkage 310 operated by the mandrel seating relaywinding 294 to energize winding 406 when brush 412 contacts segment 410.When winding 406 is so energized, contacts 402 and 404 close to energizesolenoid 400 to drive valve 396 to actuate the corresponding hydrauliccylinders to close the movable rollers of the unit. A holding coil 414connected in parallel with winding 406 is arranged to close normallyopen contacts 416 connected between line 236 and coil 414 by a linkage418. The circuit to coil 406 is thereby maintained. In order to reversethe direction of actuation of valve 396 so as to open the correspondingmovable rollers when the unit arrives at the discharge station. Iprovide a second solenoid 398 connected at one side to line 236 by apair of normally open contacts 420 and at the other side to line 234 bya pair of normally open contacts 422. When contacts 420 and 422 areclosed, solenoid 398 is energized to operate valve 396 in a direction tocause the corresponding movable rollers to be opened. In order toope'rate contacts 420 and 422, I provide a relay winding 424 connectedbetween line 236 and a segment 426 associated with brush 412. As thereel is stepped, brush 412 moves from segment 410 to segment 426 tointerrupt the holding circuit of relay winding 406 and complete thecircuit of winding 424. Winding 424 when energized closes contacts 420and 422 to energize solenoid 398 actuating valve 396 in a direction toopen the corresponding movable rollers. It is to be understood that therelative length of segments 410 and 426 is such that the movable rollersclose when the unit is at the feeding station and the mandrel seatinglimit switch 292 is actuated, and the rollers do not open until the unitarrives at the discharge station.

-For the unit which corresponds to the unit at the discharge station, Iprovide a valve 428 which is actuated by a suitable linkage driven by asolenoid 432. In order to energize solenoid 432 to drive valve 428 tomove the corresponding movable rollers to the closed position, I connectone side of winding 432 to line 234 by normally open contacts 436. Iconnect the other side of winding 432 to line 236 by normally opencontacts 434. In order to actuate contacts 434 and 436, I provide arelay winding 438 connected at one side by normally open contacts 440 toline 236 and connected at the other side to a segment 442, with which abrush 444 connected to line 234 is associated. Contacts 440 are closedby linkage 310 to energize winding 438 to close contacts 434 and 436 toenergize solenoid 432 to actuate valve 428 to move the correspondingmovable rollers to closed position. In order to maintain this circuit ofwinding 438 after the mandrel seating limit switch 292 isrreleased, Iconnect a winding 446 in parallel with winding 438 so as to be energizedwhen winding 438 is energized. Winding 446 operates a linkage 448 toclose normally open contacts 450 connected between winding 446 and line236 to maintain the circuit of winding 438. In order to actuate valve428 in a direction to Open the corresponding movable rollers, I providea second solenoid 430 connected at one side to line 234 by a pair ofnormally open contacts 454 and connected at the other side to line 236by a pair of normally open contacts 452. When contacts 452 and 454 areclosed, winding 430 is 13 energized to actuate valve-428 in a directionopposite to the direction in which the valve is actuated by ,theenergization of winding 432. When the winding 430 is so energized; thecorresponding-rnoyable rollers; are opened. To operate-contacts 452 and454-;to energize solenoid 430;; I= provide a relay wi1'1ding -'456rcpnnectedj'between line 236- and a segment; 45-8 :'associated with;brush 444; As the reel is stepped; brush" 444 engagessegrnent, 458W-hen'the corresponding unitis at;the discharge sta on to energizewinding 456'j and" close the conta t$i45lflanrl 454 toenergize solenoid43(Y -and;to open the ,cQ,1ir?.$Pond ing movable rollers;

It-= will i readilybe' ppreciated; that all the brushes 38,0, 412;and-[444 are carried'by shaft"2 6;.for rotation there with, The relativecircumferential ,spacing ot gthegbrushes issuch that the' brushcorrespondingv to the, unit at the mandrel feed; station engages asegment snch assegrnent 378 sothat the rollers-may be moved,to' a closcdpositifiln when the mandrekseating limit switchjs actuated, The brushcorresponding to'the unit 'at the winding station engages asegrnentsuch,as the segment 4ljl,,so thatr its associated solenoid is maintainedenergized in a direction, to close the corresponding movable rollers.The brush 444is sopositioned that;it,engages a segment, such as thesegment 458; to energize the solenoidcwhich-i operates valve 428'to movethe corresponding movable, rollers to open position.

After'a mandrel, has been fedjtqtthc pen belt and latched in the bottomsf s1ots 192 by, latc hes- 2 16,- and the movable rollers 50,.andj52 hayebeen closed,.,the rack 194 on its return engages andjactuates a returnlimit switch 460' connected at one side ;to. line 234;, and, at the;other side to line 236, by areturnrelay, winding 462,, When winding462is energized, itioperatesalinkagefifii to open normally closed.contacts, 352,,and, thereby interrnpt themandrelfeed drivemotolireversing; circuit. It ls pens norma lyt lose cont silifllo ev nergizethe mandrel feedlatchsolenoids 178v andperrnitthenr to reset. Thiswinding 462 ;also, opens normally clo,sed,con-, tacts 282, to interruptthe holding circuit for. the-.main-- control relay winding, 272andLPermitcontacts 252, 2518; 256; n 288' to pen; and,con act 53ctQ.e..;

In,order to,.step the,reel.when a groupmf operations have beencompleted, Iconnect a solenoidflfitl at on sideto line 236tby a pair ofnorm-ally,open-contactsi46fit. 1 6: other side o f solenoid 1464 isconnectedv by normally open, contacts 468f to line 234.,Contacts,,466,are closed upon, the energization of, winding 462, when.rack, 19 41-.eng age s-. the rack return limit switchAfitl.Thenormally, open con-,1 tacts 468 are momentarily, closed by theoperation; of a timer which; will be describedin detailshereinafter.When both contacts 468., and contacts .466. are: closed, solenoid; 464,is moment ri y erg e pe a e he 1 ctuating mernb'er 148mb one-revolutionclutch 140,7totreleasetthe; v n. membet 142m ,perm i g e ev tipnzof;,hat 144. This single reyolution of; shaft- 144 steps; the reelhrough 1 ahir i f. alrcvol nt yr ean f? ars: 150. nd 15.2 The, tepping f e reel,.v utoma ic lly: accomp d at th nd of,. a: r a f pe at on m m ans f, a.pho o e ay tu m-, phot tu ef 230;, Thephoto relay 470, is connectedat.one side toe 234 and at the, other side, to line 236 through a windin4.72. Winding; 472t;ist adapted when energized ,to :close ,-a-- pain-of:normallycpen contacts474 throug ailinkage fld when' thelight beamfromsource 228-10 phototube 230;is-;interrnptedby a length of mat fromthe conveyor ;2 24-. C911: tacts 474..Ia re connected in ,series; withadimer relay-winds ing 478 bctweenilines 2:34. and 236. Winding 478? whenergized initi te he a o t o 1 irnin' t ev ee; &2;

timer. 8. et n. i 1$m24 nd236, T e e i wation .1

of {winding 484 closes c ontacts 46 8l tostepthe reel. It is;

to he nctedalso, that en r iza i nl f. winding 72 c osestv 14 a pair ofcontacts 486 connected between the conductor &0 .andrlinelfifi. Ihistlosure omplet -4, h r ireuitzto the main control\ rje1ay 272'. 'tobegin, a. new group. of perat on h me elay. between. the operation a ofi photo.. el y 47 .0 and the, operation of jtinrer, 482i is so selectedthat, all operations willgbe complete bythjeltime-tho timing device 482operates. That is, the feeding of an empty mandrel o, h matv winding,unitpositioned dja ent thereto "will have been comple d .80 that thecontacts Add associated with the mandrel jfeed rack returnrelay. winding462 will be closed; Consequently', wherncontacts468i are closed 120. 1the.- per tio of" hel imer 4822., he solenoid. 46 ill; e nergized; o.ctuate the: ones-r volution clutch to step the reel:

It will gbe appreciated ,that when operations are initiated, the mat indng ni at thewindingw ta i n w ll r y n mp y, tmand e g and. not winding,p r ion: will be performed-L onseq en ly, im r" 482. will, not operateafter a mandrel has been, fed,v to, themat winding; unitoppositethemandrel feed stationt In'order to energize solenoid464'to,stenthereelafter this initial delivery ffan, empty, mandrel )tothe-nnit. positioned adjacent the mandrel. feed v station, I, connect amanually operable pushbuttonswitch 488,in:para1lc1; with contacts 468.After anempty,mandrelghas been fedtto ainatrwinding unit when operation.of "the machine is being set up, switch 488' maybe actuated toenergizetsolenoid464 and step, the, reel. It willbe, appreciated that atthis time; contacts 466; have been closed, by. winding 462 so ha h Cicuit 1 lenoida4 4rmav readily be completed nl ne a on,. assuming hrelativedisp-osi iom of. the mat'winding unitscto boas, shownin.Figure,1,,so.that the,ma chin e, is; operatinghall. thcebclts 40,,will be con: uously ive nce the.-he1t drive .motor was, started by theoperation ot'pnsh button switch 266 to close .contacts 4 n zeiig H01.apQntaetsZ AseIve.to maintain the circuit. ofjwinding- 27 4.. to keep.contacts 244V and 24 8?clo sed u ntilfstop button 287 Y is operated to.stop the m c ne,

As a length ofjmat 2,6 6tis,fed, to,the,unit.36, it inter-r rupts-jhebean oilight from lightsource. 228,10 photo-- tubje 23011 When this.occurs, photo, relay, 470 operates; in a manner known to the art toenergize winding 472,

lose. ontacts 474 and.48,6.. When wn a s ose they, complete ie irc itrofwinding zn from, line, 3i h fo g,t switch. 2& rough. winding2.72,,thro1- il line, 280; thjtouglicontactsASfi, to, line, 236.The-energiezatio noi wi I i .1g,27 Z p sv ,contacts..:253 ,in vthe man rl, feed drive motor brake solenoid circuit to t de. ,-.energi ze,solenoidj251 to release the brake. The energization of, winding 272 also closes rnandrel feed, drive. ,motor, field": winding contacts ;252,jand,'closes. theridown ,drive: contacts; 5 nd, 51 .01 hem ndrel. fe ddrivesmotort arm ture-,- 253 Atfleeame ime contacts..,288., are-clos d,-to ener zefl le man relgfeedreleas sol noids-47$ When sole 0id. 78" renergized. fingers, movet -a ewed 'inl i g n a4, to,re1ease.. nds ,of .anempty r li' hatt 15.8 1096 51 the ma drel- .to be d downwardt towardan,open belt 40. At ,thesame time. fingers, 182 mo e. to. heleft, (aewed inEi re...4,,,to catch: n tai n tl 1 'e shaft endsofthe next empty,mandrel. As-tther an rell riye motor. rotates,-,i ri e r h f 06 in,ardir rection to d iv rack l94idownw rdly svi wed inF gure 3. As, rack194 moyes downwardly, arms 208 r engage-.1 the ends of-fth'erelcaS2d,,mandrc1 shaft 158- to force-themandrelj 15,6 downward into,belt ,40 between movable,- ro l1jt; rs .50jand 52,,againsttthe,action oftensioning roller 90,] When rackr194treaches, the limit of its downward;rnqvement the ends .of, shaft 158,-are seated invthebotq om hof, .icradialag ide sl t 192-; A hi c194v engages and 'actuates the mandrelseating limit switch 292;; to complete he -,cir.e i.t. :0f: th m ndrelse ing relay Windi g;294- Energ zat nzoftthe. mandrel :seating relay ndsing zggi closest contacts, 1 3 462 r to, co nplete-v the: circuit of:

15 winding 342 to open contacts 260 and close contacts 262 and 264. Theopening of contacts 260 interrupts the down drive circuit of armature254, and the closing of contacts 262 and 264 completes the return drivecircuit for armature 254. The circuit of winding 242 is maintained by aholding circuit including winding 348 and contacts 350.

The energization of mandrel seating relay winding 294 also closes themandrel seating latch contacts 298, 318, and 330 of the respectiveunits. It can be seen by ref erence to Figure that the closing ofcontacts 298 associated with windings 296 completes the circuit of thesewindings from line 234, through windings 296, through contacts 298,through contact 300, and through brush 302 to line 236. Windings 295 mayconveniently be those which are associated with the unit 34 positionedadjacent the feed station. The circuit to windings 296 is maintainedafter brush 302 leaves contact 300 by the holding circuit includingwinding 312 and normally open contacts 384. When windings 296 areenergized, winding 312 is energized to close contacts 304 and maintainthe circuit of windings 296 through contact 306 and segment 308 carriedby the shaft 26. As brush 302 leaves contact 308 when the reel isstepped, segment 308 remains in engagement with contact 306 to maintainthe circuit of windings 296 when the corresponding unit is at thewinding station.

It is to be understood that at the time when the parts are as shown inFigure 5, the circuit to seating latch windings 316 associated with theunit adjacent the winding station are maintained by virtue of theengagement of segment 308 with contact 327. These windings 316 were, ofcourse, initially energized during the preceding group of operations. Atthis time also the latch windings 328 of the unit adjacent the dischargestation are de-energized, since their holding circuit was interrupted assegment 308 left contact 340 when the reel was stepped. During the nextsucceeding group of operations, after that represented in Figure 5,windings 328 will be conditioned to be energized as that unit movestoward the mandrel feed station, and windings 316 are arranged to bedeenergized as the corresponding unit arrives at the discharge station.

The closing of the mandrel seating relay winding 294 also closescontacts 376, 408, and 440 associated with the respective mat windingunits. The closing of the contacts 376 associated with the unit adjacentthe mandrel feed station energizes winding 374 to close contacts 370 and372 to energize winding 366 to actuate valve 364 to connect lines 356and 362 of the unit 34 to a source of fluid under pressure, and toconnect lines 358 and 360 of the unit to the exhaust. When the lines areso connected, movable rollers 50 and 52 are driven toward one another,as viewed in Figures 1 and 3, to form a pocket of the belt 40 about theempty mandrel. It is to be understood that during this group ofoperations the solenoid 400 associated with the unit positioned adjacentthe winding station is maintained energized by the holding circuitincluding winding 414 and contacts 416. This winding was initiallyenergized during the preceding group of operations. At the same time thesolenoid 432 corresponding to the unit adjacent the discharge station isdeenergized, and the solenoid 430 of this unit is energized. Whensolenoid 430 is energized, the lines 358 and 360 of the associated unit,which may be the unit 38,. are connected to a source of fluid underpressure, and the lines 356 and 362 of this unit are connected to theexhaust. When these connections are made, the movable rollers 50 and 52are driven away from each other to force a wrapped mandrel onto thedelivery conveyor 232.

It is to be understood that all the brushes 380, 412, and 444 arecarried by the shaft 26 and relatively circumferentially spaced so as toengage a proper segment to energize a proper one of the associatedsolenoids to open and close the movable rollers of the correspondingunit. If, for example, we take the unit 34, its solenoid '366 isinitially energized when the unit is positioned adjacent the mandrelfeed station, and the mandrel seating limit switch 292 is operated. Thisis accomplished by the energization of winding 374. When the mandrelseating limit switch operates to close contacts 376, the circuit ofwinding 374 is complete from line 234, through brush 380, throughsegment 378, through winding 374 and through contacts 376 to line 236.The circuit of winding 374 is maintained after the mandrel seating limitswitch is released from line 234, through segment 378, through winding374, and through contacts 384 to line 236. It will be readilyappreciated that the circuit of winding 374 is maintained by theengagement of brush 380 with segment 378 as the reel is stepped throughthe winding station. When the reel is stepped to advance unit 34 to thedischarge station, brush 380 leaves segment 378 to de-energize winding374 and permit the circuit of solenoid 366 to open. When brush 380engages segment 394 as unit 34 arrives at the discharge station, thecircuit of winding 392 is complete to energize solenoid 368 and reversevalve 364 to open the movable rollers of unit 34. The operation of units36 and 38 is similar to that of unit 34.

When the mandrel feed rack has been returned to a position where itengages and actuates the return limit switch 460, winding 462 isenergized to open the return drive circuit for the mandrel feed drivemotor at contacts 352. At the same time, the circuit to the mandrelrelease latch solenoids 178 is interrupted at contacts 290. The maincontrol relay winding 272 is de-energized by the opening of contacts282.

The operation of the return limit switch 460 to energize Winding 462also closes contacts 466 so that the reel stepping solenoid 464 isconditioned to operate. It will be remembered that the entry of a lengthof mat into the space between the source of light 228 and the phototube230 energized winding 472 to close contacts 474 to initiate operation ofthe timer 482 by means of winding 478. After a mandrel feed operation iscomplete and a winding and discharge operation are also complete, timer482 operates to energize winding 484 to close contacts 468 and therebycomplete the circuit of solenoid 464. When the circuit of winding 464 iscomplete, it operates the actuating member 148 of one-revolution clutchto permit the reel to be stepped through a third of a revolution. Whenthe reel is so stepped, unit 34, which has received an empty mandrel,moves to the winding station; unit 36, the mandrel of which has justbeen wrapped with a length of mat, moves to the discharge station; andthe unit 38, which has just discharged a wrapped mandrel, moves to themandrel feed station. The machine is then ready for a new group ofoperations to be initiated by the entry of another length of mat intothe space between the light source 228 and the phototube 230. It will beremembered that segment 308, brush 302, and brushes 380, 412, and 444are all stepped as the reel is stepped. Consequently, both the mandrelseating latches 216 and the movable roller drive cylinders of all theunits are conditioned to operate properly on the next group ofoperations of the machine. If when operations are being commenced sothat no winding occurs at the winding station and therefore timer 482does not operate to close contacts 468, the push button 488 may beoperated to step the reel to carry a mandrel which has just been fed toa winding unit to the winding station. Operations thereafter will followautomatically. If at any time during the course of operation it isdesired to stop the machine, the push button 287 may be operated. Also,if desired, suitable overwrap limit switches and limit switchesresponsive to a proper latching of a mandrel shaft end with the bottomsof slots 192 may be provided. Such switches are disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 425,837.

While I have shown my mat machine. as including only a single reelcarrying only one mandrel at each station, it will readily beappreciated that a number of reels or a reel capable of handling morethan a single mandrel at a time at a station could conveniently beemployed with a common drive and control system.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. Ihave provided an automatic indexing multiple unit mat winding machinewhich is capable of an extremely high rate of production. My machineincludes a number of mat winding units on which various operations aresimultaneously accomplished. Further, my machine is provided with meansfor automatically stepping the units from station to station after agroup of operations have been completed. My automatically indexingmultiple unit mat winding machine is particularly adapted to producewindings of small diameter or mat windings which have thin walls.Consequently, my machine is adapted to take advantage of the potentialproductive capacity of a production line when such small diameter orthin-walled windings are being made.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of myclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of my claims without departing from the spiritof my invention. It is therefore to be understood that my invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A mat winding machine for winding lengths of mat about mandrelsincluding in combination a mat winding unit including a belt adapted tobe actuated to form a pocket for receiving an empty mandrel to bewrapped and to discharge a wrapped mandrel and drive means for drivingsaid belt to wrap a length of mat about the mandrel, movable meansmounting said mat winding unit for movement therewith, means positionedadjacent said mounting means for feeding an empty mandrel to said matwinding unit, means positioned adjacent said moutning means spaced fromsaid mandrel feeding means for feeding a length of mat to said matwinding unit, means positioned adjacent said mounting means spaced fromsaid mandrel feeding means and said mat feeding means for receiving awrapped mandrel from said mat winding unit, and means for stepping saidmounting means successively to position said unit adjacent said mandrelfeeding means and said mat feeding means and said wrapped mandrelreceiving means.

2. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mat winding unitmounting means is a reel.

3. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mounting means isformed with means for receiving the ends of a mandrel and latches forseating said mandrel ends in said receiving means.

4. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mounting means isformed with means for receiving the ends of a mandrel, latches operableto seat said mandrel ends in the receiving means, and means foroperating said latches to seat a mandrel when said unit receives amandrel from the mandrel feeding means and for releasing said latches torelease the mandrel when the unit arrives at the wrapped mandrelreceiving means.

5. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mat winding unitincludes a plurality of belt supporting rollers for said belt, saiddrive means rotating one of said rollers to drive said belt, at least apair of said rollers being relatively movable with respect to eachother, drive means operable selectively to move said movable rollerstoward each other and to move said movable rollers away from each other,and control means for energizing said drive means to move said movablerollers toward one another to form a pocket of said belt about a'mandrelreceived by the unit from said mandrel feeding means and for energizingsaid drive means to move said rollers away from each otherwhen said unitis positioned adjacent the Wrapped mandrel receiving means.

6. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said mat winding unitcomprises a plurality of belt supporting rollers for said belt, saiddrive means driving one of said rollers to drive said belt, at least apair of said rollers being relatively movable with respect to eachother, means including a double acting fluid pressure cylinder forselectively moving said movable rollers toward and away from each other,a sourceof fluid under pressure, a re-. versible valve for controllingthe flow of fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder, andmeans for actuating said valve to move said relatively movable rollerstoward one another to form a pocket of said belt about a mandrelreceived by said unit from the mandrel feed means and to move saidrollers away from each other to open said pocket when the unit arrivesat the wrapped mandrel receiving means.

7. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 wherein said empty mandrel feedmeans includes a rack for holding a supply of mandrels, a feed latch forretaining said mandrels on said rack, and means for releasing said latchto feed a mandrel to said mat winding machine when the unit ispositioned adjacent the empty mandrel feed means.

8. A mat winding machine for winding lengths of mat about mandrelsincluding in combination a plurality of mat winding units eachcomprising a belt adapted to be actuated to form a pocket for receivingan empty mandrel to be wrapped and to discharge a wrapped mandrel andmeans for driving the belt to wrap a length of mat about a mandrel,means mounting said mat winding units in spaced relationship to eachother, mandrel feed means for feeding an empty mandrel to a first one ofsaid mat winding units, means for feeding a length of mat to a secondone of said units when said first unit is at a position to receive anempty mandrel, means for receiving a wrapped mandrel from a third one ofsaid units when said first unit is at a position to receive an emptymandrel and said second unit is at a position to receive a length ofmat, and means for stepping said mat winding unit mounting meanssuccessively to position each of said units adjacent said mandrelfeeding means and said mat feeding means and said wrapped mandrelreceiving means.

9. A mat winding machine as in claim 8 wherein each of said mat windingunits includes a plurality of belt supporting rollers for supporting thebelt of each unit, said drive means comprising a common drive means fordriving one roller of each unit to drive all of said belts.

10. A mat winding machine as in claim 8 wherein said mounting means is areel, the arrangement being such that said units are spacedcircumferentially around said reel, one of said units being positionedadjacent each of said mandrel feed means and said mat feeding means andsaid wrapped mandrel receiving means whereby a mandrel feed operationand a winding operation and a discharge operation take place after eachstepping operation.

11. A mat winding machine for winding lengths of mat about mandrelsincluding in combination a mandrel feed station, a winding station, adischarge station, a plurality of mat winding means each comprising abelt adapted to be actuated to form a pocket for receiving an emptymandrel to be wrapped and to discharge a wrapped mandrel and means fordriving the belt to wrap a length of mat about a mandrel, means mountingsaid mat winding units such that one of said units is positionedadjacent each of the respective stations, and means for stepping saidmoutning means to position each of said units successively adjacent eachof said stations.

12. A mat winding machine as in claim 1 1 wherein each of said unitsincludes a plurality of belt supporting rollers for each of said belts,said drive means driving one roller of each unit to drive said belts, atleast a pair of said rollers ofeach unit being relatively movable towardone another to form a pocket of the belt about a mandrel received by theunit and away from each other to discharge a wrapped mandrel from theunit, means for moving the movable rollers of each unit, and controlmeans for actuating the roll moving means of the unit positionedadjacent the mandrel feed station to form said pocket when said unitreceives a mandrel and for actuating the roll moving means of the unitpositioned adjacent the discharge station to open said pocket todischarge a wrapped mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSFOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland July 1, 1953

